Bold Prayers, Big Miracles

Subtitle: How Faith and Integrity Unlock Supernatural Power

Opening Paragraph:

Some prayers are safe. They ask for comfort, for small provisions, for things that we could probably achieve on our own. But bold prayers—the kind that shake heaven and change lives—are different. Bold prayers are forged in the fire of compassion, when we see others in need and refuse to turn away. They begin with a heart of care and concern, leading us to action even when it’s inconvenient. Bold prayers move beyond words; they require us to step forward in faith, trusting that God will fight for us. And when we dare to pray with boldness, supernatural results follow. This is the kind of prayer Joshua prayed when he asked God to stop the sun in its tracks—not for himself, but for the mission God had called him to. If we want to see God move in miraculous ways, we must be willing to pray bold prayers. Today, we’ll explore five marks of bold prayer that will transform the way we seek God:

Bold Prayers Are Forged from a Heart for Others – They start with compassion for those in need.

Bold Prayers Begin with Care and Concern – They move us beyond selfishness into action.

Bold Prayers Move Us to Action – We don’t just pray; we step out in faith.

Bold Prayers Produce Supernatural Results – When we align with God’s will, the impossible becomes possible.

Bold Prayers Align Us with God’s Mission – They aren’t just about us; they are about advancing God’s kingdom.

Joshua’s story shows us that bold prayers change everything—not just for us, but for those around us. Are we willing to pray with boldness today?

Sermon Outline:

1. Bold Prayers are forged from a Heart for others.

Joshua 10:1–5 ESV

1 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

Those without God get themselves into trouble.

The Gibeonites were in trouble because of their deception, but they turned to Joshua for help.

The world’s way is deception and survival. Without God, people get themselves into trouble.

The people of God show compassion and pray for deliverance.

We ask God to intervene in a mighty way on their behalf.

Joshua could have ignored their cries, but instead, he responded with compassion and intercession.

Application: Who in our community is suffering because of past mistakes? Will we stand in the gap and pray for them?

2. Bold Prayers Begin with Care and Concern

Joshua 10:6–7 ESV

6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

The Gibeonites cried out: “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us.”

Joshua could have abandoned them. They made their own bed, right? But instead, he acted in love.

We can’t stand by and watch our community be destroyed.

If God doesn’t turn His back on people, how can we?

Application: Who in our lives do we need to fight for in prayer? What situations have we ignored because they weren’t “our problem”?

3. Bold Prayers Move us to Action

Joshua 10:8 ESV

8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.”

God told Joshua not to fear—victory was already promised!

But victory required faithful action.

Joshua 10:9 ESV

9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.

God fights for us, but we must step forward in faith.

The result? The Lord threw the enemy into confusion and even sent hailstones from heaven to ensure victory!

Joshua 10:10–11 ESV

10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

Application: Are we waiting on God to move, or is He waiting on us to take action?

4. Bold Prayers Produce Supernatural Results

Joshua 10:12–13 ESV

12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

Joshua needed supernatural resources to accomplish God’s will.

Joshua prayed the sun stand still over Gibeon and it did!

The Lord heeded to the voice of a man who was accomplishing His will.

Joshua 10:14 ESV

14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.

5. Bold Prayers Align Us with God’s Mission.

Mission alignment is crucial for mission success.

Joshua aligned with God’s heart to accomplish His Mission.

Jesus’ mission: To preach, to heal, to set captives free.

Luke 4:18–19 NKJV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Our mission: To partner with Him in bringing the lost to salvation and seeing transformation in our city.

There is supernatural power is missional alignment with Christ.

John 14:13–14 ESV

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

When we walk in step with Jesus, we can pray for the supernatural—not for personal gain, but for His kingdom!

Application: How can we align our lives and prayers with the mission of Jesus?

Conclusion:

Joshua’s bold prayer was not about his own power—it was about God’s purpose. Today, God is still calling us to stand in the gap, to pray for the lost, and to ask for the impossible. What bold prayer do you need to pray? Will you believe that God still does miracles? Will we, as a church, pray for God to move mightily in our community and trust Him for the supernatural?

Altar Call: A Call to Bold Prayer for Our Community

“Church, today is a day for bold faith. Today is a day for bold prayers.”

We’ve seen in Joshua’s story that bold prayers are not about asking for small, safe things. They are about stepping into God’s mission, standing in the gap for others, and believing for the impossible. Joshua didn’t just pray from a distance—he took action, he moved forward, and he trusted God to show up in miraculous ways.

And today, God is calling us to do the same.

Our community needs bold prayers. Our families need bold prayers. There are people in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces, and even in our own homes who are lost and broken—waiting for someone to stand in the gap and intercede for them. Will you be that person?

I want to invite you right now—if there is someone in your life who needs a breakthrough… if there is a situation in our church or our city that needs God’s intervention… if you’re ready to step out in bold faith and pray for the impossible—then I want you to come forward.

This altar is open. Step out in faith. Let’s pray together. Let’s ask God for big miracles.

Maybe you need to pray for:

• A lost loved one to come to salvation.

• A broken marriage to be restored.

• Freedom from addiction for someone in your family.

• Revival in this city and in our church.

• The resources to build our Community Center, so we can reach even more people for Christ.

Whatever it is—come forward now. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. If God is stirring your heart, step out and meet Him at this altar.

And as you come, let’s lift up our voices together. Let’s pray bold prayers. Let’s believe that the same God who made the sun stand still is still moving today.

Let’s pray together:

“Father, we come before You, believing that You are a God who answers bold prayers. We lift up every name, every need, and every burden that is being placed at this altar today. We declare that nothing is impossible for You. We ask You to heal, to restore, to redeem, and to provide in supernatural ways. Just as You fought for Joshua, we ask You to fight for our families, our church, and our city. We will not shrink back in fear—we will pray boldly, and we will trust You to move. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!”

Small Group Discussion Guide:

1. Why do you think Joshua prayed so boldly for the sun to stand still? How can we apply that kind of faith to our lives?

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you saw God move because of a bold prayer? What happened?

3. How can we, as a church, pray bold prayers for our community and take action to make an impact?